In 1920’s inner-city Dublin tenements, Ivy Rose Murphy struggles to survive and thrive in the harsh poverty-stricken environment she was born into. She is trying to adapt to her new role as a married woman. There are those jealous of the improvements she has managed to make in her life. To Ivy it seems everyone wants a piece of her. She is stretched to breaking point.Ivy’s old enemy Father Leary keeps a close watch on her comings and goings. She has attracted the attention of people willing to profit from the efforts of others. She needs help. Ivy’s friends gather around to offer support – but somehow Ivy is the one who gives hope to them.Ivy’s husband, Jem Ryan, is a forward-thinking man. He is busy making a better life for the family he longs for – but can he protect Ivy when her enemies begin to close in?
This was the 4th and final book in the Ivy Rose series and it didn't disappoint! I had several unanswered questions going into this book that were finally answered. Ivy Rose had always had a problem with the Parish Priest Father Leary and I never knew why or what had happened to make him so horrible to her. That all came out in this book and it didn't disappoint me. He was a horrible man and never treated Ivy with any form of respect or even niceness. This book introduced some new characters, which at the time I thought "why now?", but after finishing the book it all made sense. These new characters were needed to fill in the holes of a couple storylines that were previously unanswered. I'm so glad I read all four of these books, I'd read where some stopped after 2 or 3, but this book was the icing on the cake and made the others all fall into place. I love Ivy's guts and determination in everything she did in life. She was an unstoppable woman and knew what she wanted and worked hard to get it. My kind of character! In fact, most of these characters were so well written that they seemed like members of my family after reading the 4 books. This was a charming series and one that I will remember for a while. I don't want to give anything away, since I feel you really need to read this series and get to know Ivy and her friends. I too was fascinated by the living conditions in the tenements of Dublin. Even though these people lived in abject poverty, they had lives full of family and friends, love and even hope. The author did a great job with all these books. I've read other books by Gemma Jackson and liked them, as well. I'll have to keep my eyes open for more by this author.
There is a book lover's meme floating around that talks about the inability to start a new book because you are still living in the last book's world. Having just finished Ha'Penny Schemes, the 4th book in the Ivy Rose series, I can attest to the truth of that feeling. It's not often that I read all the books in a series back to back, but Gemma Jackson has done such a fabulous job of world building and character and plot development that I couldn't help myself. I feel like Ivy Rose, Jem, her absolutely fabulous husband, and best friend Ann Marie along with the whole cast of characters are real and just waiting for me to visit them in The Lane in Dublin.
I started reading historical fiction as a young girl and it is what inspired my love of history and led to my 35 year career as a history teacher. This book is well researched and true to the period of the mid-1920's in Ireland. More importantly, it is a beautiful character study of a strong female in a world where women have almost no personal or economic rights. They are the chattel of their husbands, bound by the expectations of society and for most in Ireland, the bounds of the Catholic Church. How Ivy Rose survives to thrive in this environment is a lesson that all mother's should want their daughter' to learn.
A word about Jem Ryan, a man you'd truly want your daughters to know. In a time when the world was ordered to the expectations and desires of men, he has such uncommon common sense and devoted love for Ivy that he has the personal strength to allow her to be herself. He is what we want modern men to be: respectful and supportive of the intelligence and ambition of women but self-confident enough to treat them like ladies and love them unconditionally. Many authors write about a man's love for a woman, but Ms. Jackson's Jem is a model that they should consider. His love for Ivy shines through his every thought, word and deed and I truly came to love this man.
The many secondary characters add beautiful richness and texture to this 4 book series. Ann Marie Gannon, initially pegged as a "do gooder," is representative of changing attitudes toward class and social responsibility. Conn, Michael, Ali, Enda, Jennifer and a host of other young secondary characters represent the drive to improve one's lot in life through hard work, ambition and loyalty. Father Leary is a unique character that represents the worst of what can happen when religion and power become intertwined. All of the secondary characters have such well formed, distinctive personalities that it's not hard to keep them all straight in the well populated world of The Lane.
Is this book perfect? No, but it's pretty darn close and provided such a rich, satisfying reading experience that, as the aforementioned meme indicates, I'm having a hard time moving on. The majority of the story telling through all four books is done in a matter-of-fact, genuine, almost conversational way. This is what contributes to the feeling of almost total reality throughout. The climax with its jarring plot twist, felt a bit contrived and overly dramatic and, as a result, a bit less real.
Bottom line: I heartily recommend this series with its rich descriptions, engaging characters and engrossing story line. It's definitely going on my 'keeper' shelf.
The 4th in the series runs out of steam. Surely these lives could be described without every scene defined by putting on the kettle for tea! In fact, the only image I have of this books characters is the breadth and depth of what they eat with their tea. This series should have stooped at book three.
Overall, reading this novel is a bit like watching a new reality series, the struggling housewives of Dublin. Adventure after adventure unfolds in each chapter it seems, with a number of high drama events thrown in to keep your interest alive. However, at the end of it I found it very dificult to engage with the story as the author did not seem to worry about having smooth transitions from section to section, or moving away from a story line that emphasizes dramatic events that seem to do little to propel the story line forward. The numerous high ratings for the book suggest that I am in the minority on this book, but not every book is for everyone. If you like the Housewives of (insert city here) you may well like the cat fighting, malicious gossip and underhanded actions that are littered throughout the novel, only with the substitution of tea for cocktails.
Admittedly, Gem a Jackson's writing style needs a bit of a polish. Her choice of describing just how difficult it was in Ireland's 1920s I is emphasized repeatedly and in fine detail. After the 3rd or 4th book it sometime felt exhausting.
There are also times that the author needed to maybe recap incidents from previous books to explained a current situation. And, there were a few times a jaw dropping invent would happen with no other explanation or previous hint whatsoever. It was almost like it came from thin air making it unrealistic.
Yet, her choice of this emphasis further explains just how hard the underprivileged had to work to not only survive, make a new meet, but to rise above the lifelong poverty.
To rise to above ones station was practically unheard of and even thought down upon. The slum inhabitants are almost conditioned that the lack of food, heat, decent clothing and indoor plumbing is their lot.
Ivy and her husband have chosen to rise above society's expectations and involve others in their endeavors.
I enjoyed this book mainly because of the remarkable characters, but it also provides an interesting and entertaining glimpse into the life of a poor Dublin community in the 1920s. This book starts with Ivy having moved up in the world and is beginning to drag the community along with her, despite the appalling Catholic Church and Father Leary. The reason these books are so good, is that the author has created a heroine that you desperately want to succeed.
The author’s writing style is quite interesting it’s a bit like reading a diary. The story is made up of a series of little incidents, at the start of a new paragraph you find you have moved on a day, or more and that particular episode is suddenly over. I found this quite difficult in the previous book, but once you get used to it, it’s quite a good way of keeping the pace in the story.
This was an excellent book, I just hope it isn’t the end of the series.
This last book of the series is a great ending to a well written story of the 1925-1927ish era in tenements in the slums of Dublin, Ireland. The characters are so real! The situations are unnerving at times, especially with the overly extended powers of the Catholic church. I found it appalling how women were basic chattel and babymakers to their husbands. The independent Ivy as a hard-working young woman since early childhood is very well described. Her thoughts and travails are documented thoroughly as she carves out a life for herself under such devastating poverty. Other characters are well described, also, as the author breathes life into this unique story. Readers of historical fiction should read this series, and I'm certain will love it as I have. I have put Gemma Jackson on my list of authors to follow as her writing is excellent.
I waited to write a review until I had read the entire four book Ivy Rose series. The highest praise I can give is that I sincerely hope there will be a book 5. The characters are gritty yet enchanting. The Irish tenements came alive for me. I could visualize the characters, both upper and lower class, from watching Titanic. I admired Ivy's tenacity and strength and the lengths she went to in order to help others while putting herself at peril. A fifth book would be welcome to explain what happens to her mother and brothers.
After finishing the entire series in five days, I want more!! I couldn't get enough of Ivy and Jem and would love to know how their life goes on with the baby. The writing was fantastic, Gemma Jackson is able to completely immerse you in The Lane. You can smell the tunnel as Ivy walks through, you can smell & hear the goings-on at the livery and you can hear the children running around playing with their newspaper and twine ball. You definitely feel as though you are inside the story. The character development was also an amazing part of the world building. You could picture Mrs. Purcell and Father Leary as they were trying to accuse Ivy of doing devilish doings. Every single character of the books were brought to life beautifully. As you are reading you could picture them clear as day, with their accents and clothes going about their day. This series was the first I had read by Gemma Jackson but I've already got some of her other books in my library that I can't wait to start! I would 100% recommend this series to others. You will not be disappointed!!
I read the first book in the Ivy Rose series and immediately went to the library and had them order the series. When I went back to take out the next in the series, it was not available because so many people were looking to read this enchanting series
This is the final book in the series. The characters are so colorful that you feel as though you want to go to all the places they talk about in their poor corner of Dublin, early in the 1900's. This book is about the new marriage between Ivy as she drives herself to make money with all of her entrepreneur ideas and hard working Gem, Ivy's husband. They care for all the people living in the tenement and find waysHa'Penny Schemes to employ them.
The story feels wonderful as you read it and are thrilled that you have become part of their world.
Ha'Penny Schemes, the 4th and final installment in the Ivy Rose series by Gemma Jackson, exceeded my expectations! As with books 2 and 3 I'm not sure how it would read as a stand alone book, but for those of us who have followed Ivy from the beginning - this was a very satisfying end.
Although the first three books did hint at the power the Catholic Church held over Ireland at that time, it became an item of focus in this last installment. If this had been the case throughout the series the story would have been a bit more serious, of more historical significance.
Nonetheless, the entire Ivy Rose series was entertaining. I enjoyed all four books and definitely recommend.
**without giving too much away, the final resolution to the 'Father Leary' issue had me stomping my feet with laughter! So worth the wait!
This is book 4 in the Ivy Rose series set in the early 20th century Ireland. The main character is spunky, feisty and finally truly happy in her life. Having read the previous 3 novels in the series, I have to say that I just did not see the ending of this book coming. I was totally gobsmacked.
Gemma Jackson is an outstanding author. Her writing is superb, her character studies excellent and she has the ability to draw the reader into the story and hold them there. I read all 4 books one after another - neglecting the housework, exercising or any project I had going. I have to tell you that it felt absolutely wonderful. If you want a great book - this would be it. Actually do yourself a favor and start with book one and take it to the this book...you won't regret it. I love it and would recommend it to any and all.
I am enjoying the series - it is like a little soap opera. The good people seem to win and the bad guys suffer as it should be. Ivy is ahead of her time for women's rights, and although poor she is a hard worker and always willing to help her neighbors and friends. She is rewarded with success in love, family and riches.
This fourth book was my least favorite - I pretty much knew what would happen - there were a few surprises but not major ones. The text was repetitive - I don't know how many times Ivy thought or said she was so busy and had too much to do. I seemed like text was repeated to fill out the pages of the story. I hope the next book does not disappoint.
I just finished Ha'Penny Schemes, completing the four volumes of the Ivy Rose series by Gemma Jackson. What stood out in all four were he characters. They were believable even though I knew they were fictional. The setting in The Lane, Dublin brought to light the joys and sorrows, the troubles and the successes of the poor. Ivy works her way up in the world by hard work and a very imaginative brain. She, as well as the other characters, are people you would like to know better - and have some tea with. I had wished there were more novels in the series. I would love to follow Ivy and Jem further. Highly recommended.
After reading the first 3 books, I was excited to see that the series was coming to an end. I felt like this book had the most action, which kept me interested the most. There were several characters I loved, but I felt like there could have been more time spent on some things and less on others. There were a lot of people to keep up with, and I felt like there was always a new story line starting. Just a lot going on, and I felt pulled in several directions, but I enjoyed it. I also love her addiction to tea!!!
Ivy and Jem realise that they have a lot on their minds and in their lives. Conn points out to them that they need help and suggests his siblings. And the Parish Priest and Ivy's own brother are out to make her life difficult. Then Ann Marie becomes pregnant and Ivy isn't far behind. Things get interesting. Read and see how it all turns out. ? I don't know if this is the end of this series but it has kept me very interested. I have grown to love these people.
An amazing young woman whose life runs through four books
I read all four books in quick succession delighting in this hard working, gifted and imaginative young woman. From beginning her breadwinning life at nine years old till the birth of her first child. I met her husband to be, her relatives, and many members of her community. This selfless woman singlehandedly gave succour and work to so many.
This book is the end of Gemma Jackson series on an Irish tenement in Dublin. Ivy Murphy is the main character. We follow her through childhood which she had none, to marriage and motherhood. ( 1909 1929 ) . Ivy is a thinker with a strong intellect and strong observation skills . I am thrilled I found this series because it held my interest, provided me, with a few laughs, and addressed the problems of the time period.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I have really enjoyed this series about Ivy Rose, a poor girl in Dublin, who turns her life around. She is married to Jem and they continue to hire many of the people in their area and make new, rich friends. The mean priest continues to attack Ivy and cause trouble.
The whole series is a bit of a fairy tale, but good escape reading. Ivy is a good person and always tries to help others.
Enjoyed the series and could envision life during this time period thanks to the well written description of the trials and day to day life of the families living in the lane.
Enjoyed the series. I could envision life during this time period thanks to the well written description of the trials and day to day life experiences of the families living in the lane.
I wasn’t sure I’d like this story when I saw it, but something about it caught my eye. Once I started I binged the whole series! It’s fascinating historical background. It has plenty of action and intrigue without going over the top. Characters are fascinating and heroic in a real-life sort of way.
The end has come. It was thrilling to read this series in a few days. It was my privilege to be with the various families and what they encountered together to bring about success.In The Lane. A wonderful read from beginning to end. Amazing storylines with a few twists. Thank you..
I can't possible explain how I enjoyed this story and the three books before. I couldn't stop smiling as I read. I'm sorry to leave Ivy Rose Murphy Ryan and her motley crew of people. Unusual characters, believable and survivors that win you over with their conflicts, chaos, sense of rights and wrongs and how to fix it in a sequestered space.
Thank you Gemma Jackson. This series has brought so much to me during this holiday season when things are so crazy and challenging with corona and lock downs and all that is going on. But "spending time in Ivy's world" gives a bit of perspective on what life was like and how people made it from day to day and even took care of each other. I will miss these people!
I loved this set from the first book to the last. The twists and turns just kept coming and kept you on your toes! Colorful characters, great storyline, never boring. I regret that it's over. I have already started on the next series that takes place in America! Can't get enough of Ms. Jackson's books!!💖
I thoroughly enjoyed this Book 4, ag characterss I did the previous three books. They were filled with such imagination, fascinating characters, and providing an insight of how it must have been in Ireland in that era. I am only sorry there will not be a Book 4 to continue the story of Ivy Rose Murphy Ryan and all her friends..
I truly love Ivy and Jim. throughout this series, there were many times I yelled out at the characters. I am happy and will give just a bit of a look in that the bad person gets what they deserve... I would love to know what happens next with their lives. In the end, you will probably laugh as I did.
I just finished the last book in the Ivy Rose series and want more of this delightful character. String, but with an inner core of love and caring, Ivy is a formidable force to be reckoned with, using her good fortune and natural business acumen to better the lives of those about her in the slums of Dublin. If you’re a fan of Maeve Benchley, you’ll love this series.